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THE BEACH by Meraas, the upbeat outdoor destination, is hosting a range of alternative artists and art activities as part of Dubai Art Season 2015, a city wide umbrella art initiative.

Until April 1, visitors will have the chance to experience an offbeat melodic treat, as musical maestro ‘Pipe Guy’, a.k.a. Jake Clark entertains the crowds creating harmonious magic with his unique style of playing household pipes.

To celebrate the essential link between art and society, THE BEACH in collaboration with the Dubai Centre for Special Needs and National Paints is hosting a special ‘paintball wall’ from April 2. The fun-filled initiative aims to seamlessly integrate art and the community for a good cause. For a contribution of AED25, the outdoor destination invites visitors to discover the child within themselves by launching paint balls at a white wall in an artistic manner using a paintball gun. Once the wall is completely covered with paint, an artistic ‘THE BEACH’ logo will be revealed. All proceeds from the ‘paintball wall’ will be donated to the DCSN art program. The completed work of art will be on display until April 21.

For music lovers, ‘hand pan artist’ Sherif El-Moghazy will amaze crowds from April 17-18 by playing beautiful hand pan steel drum music. Reputed to be a renowned hand pan player in the Arab world, the talented musician will interact with visitors as he plays the instrument that produces an ancient yet familiar sound.

Aimed at highlighting the emirate’s growing stature as a creative hub in the international circuit, the inaugural edition of Dubai Art Season will run until April 21, 2015. As a venue partner of the Dubai Art Season, THE BEACH will provide visitors with access to unique art and cultural events and attractions throughout the season.

Burger Hood, a unique high-end gourmet burger venue offering customers delicious and locally sourced healthy food, after enjoying massive success since launching its flagship outlet at Al Muroor, Abu Dhabi in April 2013, today announced the launch of the Dubai outlet in Jumeirah 1. The launch of the new outlet will assist Burger Hood’s expanding franchise business across the UAE.

Burger Hood is proud of the fact that they have served the community in the UAE with tasty food in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Burger Hood serves top quality, gourmet burgers, have sit-in, take-away and delivery options and successfully cater to the diverse culture and population of the UAE. Burger Hood has seen massive growth in its loyal consumer’s base in a short span.

The menu caters for a broad customer base and features burgers made from grass fed beef and free range chicken. The menu also includes a sumptuous mushroom burger, comforting steak sandwiches, hot dogs, healthy salads, desserts and creamy shakes. Another unique feature of their menu is that fries at Burger Hood are made from fresh, hand cut American Russet potatoes.

Burger Hood, owned by an Emirati partner and developed by Glee Hospitality Solutions, is a home-grown concept inspired by classic American diners. Burger Hood, owned by Emirati Partner, Dr. Saif Aldhaheri one of the partners, prides itself on using only the finest, freshest and locally-produced ingredients to produce comfort-food that is nutritionally beneficial, while not compromising on the taste.

The company’s locally sourced meat is minced on a daily basis and brioche buns are used for their burgers to give a more luxurious taste. This is a unique feature of Burger Hood’s food and a key factor that differentiates Burger Hood from its competitors.

Dr. Saif Aldhaheri, an Emirati and one of the partners of Burger Hood revisits his journey as the owner of Burger Hood and says, “I am extremely proud of the connect we enjoy with our loyal consumers. The stage was set for home- grown concepts when we started back in 2013 and we made sure that we maintain the quality of the food at all times to reach where we are today. We serve with passion and within a short period we have been able to reach out to most of the food enthusiasts in the UAE. We will expand aggressively going forward.”

“Our customers love the quality of our food, the nutritional value and the whole ambience of our restaurants. We are delighted to already have such loyal patrons and we aim to continue serving great food to them,” concluded Dr. Saif Aldhaheri.

A unique concept in healthy food dining, Burger Hood offers gourmet healthy food in an inviting and atmospheric environment. Diners enjoy contemporary interiors and a relaxing ambience as the décor is modern and spacious. Friendly and professional staff ensures that customers feel at home. With a menu designed to cater to a wide range of tastes, the options reflect the diverse and multicultural population of the UAE whilst the spirit remains resolutely Emirati. All these factors make Burger Hood a go-to-destination and a great place for friends and family to dine out.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is using its participation in the Dubai Government Achievements Exhibition (Dubai World Trade Centre, 30 March – 1 April) to showcase its e-Permit and e-Ticketing platforms which were recently introduced to align with the objectives of Dubai Smart City initiative. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and now in its third year the event is themed ‘Local Government and Global Achievements’ and will highlight the leadership qualities of the Government of Dubai in various fields. It also celebrates excellence and innovation within government departments and is an opportunity to showcase the achievements, services and projects of all departments and institutions under one umbrella.

DTCM’s e-Permit and e-Ticketing platforms were first introduced in September 2013, with DTCM taking responsibility for the development and management of both. The former is an online system through which all procedures related to the application, processing and licensing of event permits are operated, while the latter is a centralised platform for the sale and distribution of tickets for all events in Dubai.

Implementation of both systems are aimed at supporting and developing Dubai’s growing events sector, which is a key pillar of the strategy behind the Emirate’s Tourism Vision for 2020 to welcome 20 million visitors per year by the start of the next decade. The platforms also align with Dubai’s Smart City initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in early March 2014.

The benefits of both platforms are multiple, automating and thus speeding up and simplifying the entire events application, licensing and ticketing process, and providing an electronic ticket distribution system that is altogether easier and more convenient for those attending events. Other benefits include the ability to collect big data for the purposes of city planning and crowd management, as well as statistics that allow DTCM to optimise the events calendar and, in broader terms, improve Dubai’s events and destination offering.

Ahmad Khalifa AlFalasi, CEO of Support Services, DTCM said: “DTCM is committed to the Smart City strategy announced in March 2014 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The e-Permit and e-Ticketing platforms are just two examples of our efforts to deliver targeted initiatives across the city to provide streamlined services to our partners and stakeholders, and ultimately enhance the visitor experience. With Dubai’s events sector growing at an impressive rate and playing such a vital role in growing our tourism numbers, the new e-Permit system was introduced to streamline the management and coordination of event licensing activities and provide greater operational efficiency. The e-Ticketing system allows us to issue tickets more quickly and efficiently, and enables us to build a database of information that benefits not only DTCM but also event organisers and venues, leading to greater customer satisfaction. We have already seen positive results since both systems’ implementation, and we look forward to announcing further developments in the near future.”

Further details of both online platforms are as follows.

e-Permit

The new online platform has made applying for event permits significantly quicker and more efficient by removing the need to visit DTCM in person. In addition, where previously it was the hotel or venue hosting an event that had to apply for the permit, today the event organiser is able to submit his or her own application, which has the added benefit of opening up direct communications between event stakeholders and DTCM. Furthermore, rather than having to apply for separate permits from other government entities, such as Dubai Police, the new system allows for the issuance of a single permit that is universally recognised.

The introduction of the platform has been split into two phases. The first was rolled out on 2 November 2014 and applied only to five-star hotels. The second was launched on 2 December 2014 and will be completed by the end of May 2015, by which time the e-Permit will be available to all hotels, venues and event organisers that host entertainment, sports, trade, religious and charity events. Since the start of November 2014, DTCM has registered 394 venues and 190 organisers, and issued 2,920 event permits via the new platform.

e-Ticketing

The aim of the new online ticketing system is to expand ticket distribution channels, enable more in-depth analysis of the events industry, and ensure customer protection and satisfaction. Prior to the system’s introduction on 9 September 2014, DTCM relied on a manual ticketing process that proved relatively time consuming. The automated platform has sped things up dramatically, providing the industry with an efficient, transparent and auditable electronic ticket sales process. By subscribing to the system, hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agents and other ticket issuers can also take advantage of increased marketing and distribution channels, ultimately resulting in the growth and development of Dubai’s events sector as a whole. End users – those purchasing tickets and attending events – also benefit from the convenience of electronic ticket distribution.

The platform can also be operated as a consumer-facing ticketing solution via a White Label System (only available to selected venues during the initial phase), or as an Application Programming Interface (API) by existing ticket sales agencies that already use a ticketing system to run their operations. Event organisers who currently sell their own tickets are currently required to engage with a seller connected to the e-Ticketing system or use the DTCM Hard Ticket Process to print ticket batches to provide to customers.

Thomas Bjorn, one of golf’s most influential players, has been appointed as a global ambassador of ‘golf in DUBAi’ as part of an ambitious drive to boost the Emirate’s brand visibility on the global stage.

Affectionately referred to as ‘The Great Dane,’ Björn enjoys strong links with Dubai, having spent most of the European winter in the city that is home to world-class events like the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters

“The hub of global commerce, a top tourism destination and a shopping paradise, Dubai has become the ‘golfing hotbed’ of the region, if not the world,” said the 44-year-old veteran, who is also the chairman of the European Tour players committee.

“It’s a tribute to the country’s inspiring leadership that, despite difficult times, they have been able to develop a sporting tradition that remains at the heart of today’s vibrant leisure industry,” said Bjorn will be wearing ‘golf in DUBAi’ and GOLF CITIZEN logos on his shirts on his tournament days.

The Dane credited the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, dubbed as the Major of the Middle East, for putting the Emirate on the golfing map, saying: “It exudes a culture of excellence and a brand name that appeals to all in the golfing fraternity,” he said.

“I feel proud and privileged to be part of the golf in DUBAI family. They can always count on senior pros, like me, for spreading the message of Dubai,” said Björn, who defeated Tiger Woods when he was at his peak to win the 2001 Omega Dubai Desert Classic title on 22-under par total of 226, a record he now jointly shares with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.

Bjorn, who boasts 21 titles worldwide, including 15 on the European Tour, was equally upbeat about the MENA Golf Tour.

“As more leading events come to the region, bringing stiffer competition, the knock-on effect has been a rapid improvement in the quality of players,” he said.

“The standard of golf in the region has risen to such an extent that I believe it is just a matter of time before a real champion emerges. There is still a lot of room for the game to grow, particularly with golf being in the 2016 Olympics to drive interest. I see a very bright future for the game in the MENA region.”

Welcoming him to the family of golf in DUBAi ambassadors, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, said: “Thomas is a wonderful player, well respected all over the world and it’s an honour to have him as our golf in DUBAI ambassador.

“His constant quest for high performance and commitment to his illustrious career have made him a great fit for golf in DUBAI and we look forward to enjoying this partnership for years to come.”

The European Ryder Cup player joins a celebrated roster of golfers who have been representing ‘golf in DUBAi’ as their ambassadors, stars such as Jeev Milkha Singh, Stephen Gallacher, Zane Scotland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Faycal Serghini, Dame Laura Davies and renowned coach Peter Cowen.

Promoted and organised golf in DUBAi, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Ladies Masters are backed by OMEGA as the title sponsor and Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC as sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World & Maritime World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, JA Resorts and Hotels, Mercedes-Benz and wasl, while Dubai Duty Free, Neocasa Interiors and Motivate Publishing are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.

Dubai Design District, better known as d3, is dedicated to fostering the growth of the Emirate’s design, fashion, art, and luxury industry. It offers businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals a creative community that will be at the very heart of the region’s design scene. d3 is the newest of TECOM Investments’ freezone business parks ­ with 11 buildings currently under construction. Once complete, d3 will be a purpose built environment catering to the full value chain of the design, fashion, art, and luxury industry ­ and all with the vision of creating a world class creative community that engages, nurtures and promotes local, regional and global design talent.

D3’s facilities will include everything from cutting-edge design institutes to residential, hospitality, retail and office space. The District will be characterised by distinct public areas, unique street furniture and shaded walkways. The development will include a Creek-side esplanade with international and boutique hotels, a pop-up shop area and an amphitheatre. Located close to Mohammed Bin Rashid City and adjacent to Dubai’s Business Bay, d3 is a short distance from the city’s arterial highways and two international airports. The District is in sight of the Creek, Dubai’s historic and mercurial trading epicentre, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping complex.

D3 will be the most connected design, fashion and luxury destination in the world ­ with Dubai being only eight hours flight time from 90 per cent of the countries in the world. Guided by the objectives set out in Dubai Fashion 2020 ­ a strategic plan to harness the full growth potential of the fashion industry ­ this creative community will support Dubai’s goals for a more diversified innovation-led economy.